Type-writing machine.



B. P. F OHTIN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. \PPLICATION FILED SEPT- 15. 1915.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I INVENTOR? wn-mzssas B. P. FORTIN.

TYPE WRITING, MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 1915.

Patented Jan. 1 ,1917. 7

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rrnn @TA BENJAMIN P. FORTIN, or WRITER COMPANY,

PATENT crate HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE-- on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

' TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

Application filed September 15, 1915. Serial No. 50,765.

lVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates principally to typewriting machines, and more especially .to machines of the general character shown in the patent. to IVernery and .Smith, No. 1,132,055. Such machine is adapted forwriting on a number of superposed webs or continuous sheets, especially those folded longitudinally and intended to be torn off in cross-sections from the body of the web, as for example when the web comprises a series of printed forms. In such work it is usual to emplo vink-ribbons or carbon sheets interleaved witlrt'he webs for making duplicate copies. After a section of web has been written the platen is shifted away from the usual feed-rollers. to release the web and the interleaved carbon sheets, whereupon, by means of a carrier or holder the carbon sheets are drawn back along the web preparatory to printing on the succceding section of the web. The same carbon sheets are thus used repeatedly with the same web. The carbon sheet holder ,of a machine of this character is usually supported on a carriage which rides on a .track provided on a frame or table attach' edito theplaten carriage. Said table and carbon sheet holder therefore partake of the letterfced and return movementsof the platen carriage. while the. carbon-sheet holder has also its own line-spacing and return movements on the table. but-toward and away from the platen.

An object of the present invention is to provide a practical form of carbon-sheet;

carriage. supporting table. and tracks for the carriage whereon the carriage shall be accurately gulded without undue lost motion. and at the same time without binding of the carriage on the track. and to further combine these features in a construction which can be=made cheaply and of inexpensive materfiil.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the track rails are made separately from the table, are of simple form, readily constructed with in a direction normal thereto.

their guiding edges true, and which are easily attachable in true position on the table.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the table is coiwenientlv and cheaply made with great strength and lightness, of tubing or the like,bent or put together in the form of a rectangular skeleton frame. The use of tubing for the framework gives lightnesscombined with great rigidity. \Vhile tubing might also serve as a track for the carriage, still, owing to the fact that it may be more or less irregular in form and present (lillicultics in bringing the sides of the. frame into exact parallelism, for accurately guiding the carriage, I prefer to make. the guide rails of separate flat strips of metal which may he'readily ma chined' to make their guiding edges straight and true. The rails further add to the strength and stiffness of the frame, and the form of their guiding edges is better suited than the round surface of the tubing,,for holding the carriage rollers and preventing vertical displacement of the carriage. The rails are set on the skeleton frame in tested position and then secured by screws, or otherwise, to the frame. The carriage for the carbon-sheet holder preferably comprises two trucks. one at each side.thereof, each provided with a grooved roller journaled in the truck for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the planeof the track and engaging one edge of a rail. so that the rollers of 'onetruck prevent lateral displacement of the carriage in one direction, and the rollers of the other truck prevent lateral displacement in the opposite direction. The carriage is thus accurately guided so that the carbon sheets, as well as the webs or work-forms, which are also guided over the carbon-sheet carriage, are caused to run true, andirre accurately fed to the platen The rollers may be located on the under side of the trucks. the latter being provided witlr depending guards which extend beneath the rollers to provide journal bearings therefor. Said trucks'may also be provided with. guards depending therefrom opposite the rollers. sothat each guide-rail or track-rail In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1.

is a perspective view of a'cons'truction embodying the invention as applied to an Underwood typewriting machine, the parts being in position to permit wrlting upon a work-piece. Flg. 2 IS a sectional elevation view through the table and carbon-sheet carrier. Fig.3 is a sectional elevation showing the platen and feed-rolls. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the truck on which t e right-hand side of the carbon-sheet car- Y rier is supported, and also showing a por- 'ment.

tion of the table and the rail on which said truck rides.

Referring particularly to Fig. .1, which shows the genera-l arrangement of the platen carriage, carbon-sheet holder, and means for unfolding or straightening the web to per! mit the carbon sheets to be retracted; the platen 10 is fixed to' a platen shaft 11 journaled in arms 14 and 15 of a frame fast to a. rock shaft 12. The shaft 12 has bearings in the ends 13 of the usual platen frame. "The swinging frame is normally held in the Fig. 1 position for writing, with the platendown against the front and rear feed-rolls 69, 70, Fig. 3, and may be swung from this position to its web releasing position by means of an arm 16 fast to the rock shaft 12, and provided with'a handle 16. For look! ing the swinging frame in the Fig. 1 position, said arm 16 carries a pin 17 adapted .to be engaged by a hook 18 pivotally mounted on the platen frame end'13. A spring 19 yieldingly holds the hook in operative position, and in-returning the parts to such position, the pin 17 cams back the hook so that the lockingmay be automatic. A tooth 20 on the hook, together with a pin 22 on the right-hand end '13 of the platen frame,

determines the return throw and normal position of the swinging frame.

The platen may be rotated by the usual hand wheel 24, or the line-space ratchet wheel 25, both fast to a short shaft 26 mounted to rotate in the left-hand end. 13

of the platen frame. When the platen is in printing position the shaft 26 is in alinement with the shaft 11. As is common in Underwood typewriting' machines, the ratchet wheel is actuated by a pawl 27 on the usual slide engaged by one arm of a. line-space lever 29 on the carriageframe. A spring 110- tuated detent 34 engages the ratchet wheel ,to hold the platenagainst rotary displace- The driving connection between the shaft 26, whose axis is stationary, and the platen shaft 11, which. swings upward from normal position, consists of cars 35, 36 and 37. The gear 35 is fast on t e shaft 26, the

gear 36 is fast on the platen shaft, and of the same diameter and provided with the same number of gear teeth as the gear 35,

and the gear 37 is loose on the axle 12,

around which the platen swings as an axis,

. the platen.

said gear 37 having a face of suflicient width to mesh with both gears35 and 36. The driving connection between the shaft .26 and the platen is thus maintained in all positions of" the platen. i I

In the operation of removing a printed length from the webs and in readjusting the 5 carbons for printing the next. length, the

platen is swung from printing-positionaway from the feed-rolls, so that the webs and carbon sheets are. no longer wrapped around..t he

platen, and the carbon sheets may be moved freely between the websto return themto a position opposite a succeeding'portion of the webs. The webs may be formed from a single piece fan-folded longitudinally to provide for several copies when the .carbon sheets are interleav'edwith the folds.

The. webs may be fed into the machine over the rear end of a table 38, which in accordance with the present invention com prises a piece of tubing bent to form a rectangular frame, the front reach 390i? which has ears 40 attached thereto, by means of which the frame is secured to bracket arms 41 on the platen carriage. The table frame is braced by a tube 49 extending lengthwise thereof and which may form a support for 44, and onto the pap r shelf 45-between the side-edge gages 46.-

When. measured lengths,of-the webs are to be severed, they may be drawn to the gage 54. carried by the bar54' on the paper shelf. The cutter is shown as a plate secured to the sleeve 47 On the-shaft 12, to which sleeve is also secured a finger 48 for rocking the cutter intoengagement with the web when the latter is to be cut. The printing on the I web is effected by types 43 which may be operated bythe usual mechanism.

The carbon sheets. by means of ing action thereon of the webs, are caused to .advancewith the webs at each line-space rotation ofthe platen,-and when the platen is shifted upwardly, as before oted, the carbon sheets are released and maybe drawn back along the webs from the written to the :next unwritten length thereof. To provide for these movements of the carbon sheets, the same, in machines of this character, are attached at their rear edges to a traveling holder or carriage. This carriage, as shown, comprises a. body portion 0rv plate 55, having the bind- Fingers or clips width of the webs, and the .drillcdafter the 6 at each side thereof. T, to each of whichpne .Canbon sheet may be attached, are secured b screws 58 to the steps 59 of the blocks56. The length of each finger is less than the fingers are placed in staggered relation, alternate fingers being secured to the same side of the carnage, so that the fingers may project into the oppositely-directed fan-folds of the webs.

The carriage body or plate 55 is mounted on trucks adapted to ride on rails at the sides of the table, and a feature of the present invention relates to the construction of these trucks. Each truck consists of a plate (30 having adjacent the outer corners thereof ears ()1. on which are mounted rollers 62. Said ears comprise depending portions and inwardly turned horizontal portions, the latter providing; bearings for the vertical axles of the rollers 62 which lie horizontally and are formed with grooves 63 to engage he outer edges of guide-rails or track-rails supported on the tubular skeleton frame :48. .At the inner corners of each truck'plate 1) are ears or guard lugs TZwhich extend down past the inner edge of the adjacent rail (34. said lugs being preferably opposite the rollers 62. i

The table skeleton or frame is preferably made of tubing because it can be cheaply and easily made, and provides alight, strong and durable structure. Said frame may be made of a single piece, the ends of which are joined at one corner, or other part of the table, or it may be made of several pieces. Since the carbon-sheet carrier does not ride directly upon the table frame, no particular exactness or regularity of shape is required for the latter, and hence the frame may not only be made of tubing. but of other suitable material and form.

In the present construction provision is made for free movement of the sheet carrier and accurate guiding of the latter in its travel without undue lateral play. but such a stepped block I provision concerns the rails and the manner in which the trucks are mounted on the same, rather than the table frame proper as in previous constructions.

The rails (H. which are shown as two flat metal strips. may be easily made with their edges practically straight. The alinement ofthe rails on their supporting frame is also a simple matter. For example, one rail may be placed on the table and set to true position thereon and fastened to the table, as by means of screws 65. with the edge of the rail perpemlieular to the direction of letterfeedmovement of the platen carriage. Thescrews 65 may extend through holes in the guide-rail. and into thiieaded holesfdrilled in the tubular frame 38. One or, more of said holes in the ,tubular frame may be guide rail has been alined latter arranged with their,

thereby determined. been secured to the frame,

thereon and the position for such holes After one rail has thus the opposite rail may in like manner be positioned and secured in parallelism with-the first rail, and

at such a' distance therefrom, that the rollers,

onthe rails with a lateral play. the truck 62 can run freely minimum of lost motion or The carriage plate is securedto f 'ames as by means of screws 73. flanges on the rollers 62 positively prevent the carriage from jumping also prevent any material vertical play of the carriage on the rails.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the in'iprovements may be used ,without others.

Having thus described" my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewritin g machine, the combination with a platen, of means for advancing material thereto, said means comprising a. carriage movable toward and from the platen, a supporting frame for the carriage, guide rails, means to securesaid rails in parallelism on the frame, grooved guiderollers on the carriage arranged with their axes perpendicular to the plane" of said supporting frame to run on said gi'l'ide-rails, the guiding edges in parallelism for the correct guidance of the carriage.

'2. In a typewriting machine, the combina and a platen carriage, of means for advancing material to the platen, comprising an auxiliary carriage movable toward and from the platen, a frameon which said auxiliary carriage isinounted, said frame secured to the platen carriage to tion with a platen travel therewith as the platen is advanced nation with a "roller platen and a platen carriage, of an illlXlllflly carrlage for hold' ing transfer material between the plies of a work-plec during the line-space feed 'of the transfer material and work-piece, and for shifting the transfer. material at intervals backward along the work-piece, a supporting frame for said auxiliary carriage attached to the platen carriage and traveling therewith, and extending rearwardly therefrom. said supporting frame also forming a table over which the Work-piece is guided, said auxiliary carriage comprising a body The the frame with the rails, and

of sheet material, trucks secured to said body and carrying grooved guide-rollers arranged with their axesperpendicular to the '25 carriage and removably attach .plane of the supporting frame, guide-rails and means to secure the guide-rails on the supporting frame with their guiding edges parallel and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the platen carriage, said rollers running on said rails to thereby guide the auxiliary carriage and hold it on the supwith their axes perpendicular to the body of the carriage. v v

5. In a typewriting machine, a carriage for sheet material to be fed tothe platen, said carriage comprising a horizontally dis-. posed body of-ish'eet material, trucks, each comprising a body of sheet material, said trucks arranged beneath the bod of said thereto, and rollersjournaled in the said trucks, with carriage, said trucks comprising guards depending from the outer edges there-oi and having inturned portions providing it A bearings for. the axes of sa'idrollers.

6. In a typewriting machine, acarriage for sheet material to be fed tothe laten, said carriage comprising a horizontal y disposed body of sheet material, trucks, each comprising a body of sheet material, said trucks arranged beneath the body of said carriage and removably attached thereto, and rollers journaled in the said trucks, with 40 their axes perpendicular-to the body of the carriage, said trucks also comprising guards depending therefrom, opposite said firstmentionedguards, and spaced from the rollers to provide a passageway for tracks or guide-rails on which said rollers are adapted to run, said rollers having peripheral flanges to embrace the edge of said railsr 7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a paper carriage, of a frame connected to the carriage to travel there with, said frame comprising tubular side;

bars extendin transversely to the-direction of travel of t e carriage, parallel flat rails mounted on said bars and-extending lengthwise thereof, and a Work-supporting truck having rollers arranged to run on said rails,

each rail having one of its longitudinal edges positioned laterally beyond the supporting bar, said rollers arranged torun on said-edgesand mounted for rotation about axes perpendicular to the rails.

8. In a typewritingmachine, a platen, a carriage therefor, a sub-carriage for holding transfer material between the plies of a work-piece during line-space feed of the transfer material and work-piece, and for shifting the transfer material at intervals backward along the work-piece, a table connected to said platen carriage and compris-' ing side bars formed of tubing, and metal strips attached to said tubing both to rein- 1 force the same and to serve as opposite guiderails upon which said sub-carriage travels. their axes perpendicular to the body of the 9. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a carriage therefor, a sub-carriage for holding transfermateria-l between the plies of a work-piece during line-space feed of the transfer material and work-piece, and for fsh'ifting the transfer material at intervals backward along the work-piece, a table con-' nected to said laten carria and comprising side bars ormed of tn ing, and metal strips attached to said tubing both to reinforce the same and to serve as opposite guiderails upon which said sub-carriage travels, saidstrips comprising flat metal bars arranged edge to edge, andlvthe subc'arriage having guide-rolls to engage guide edges of the strips.

BENJAMIN P. roR'rIN, Witnesses:

FRANK A. Cook, W. M. BYORKMAN. 

